Those with long memories might recall the hyperbolic claims of the death of the dedicated video game console circa the era of Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox. Pundits loved to declare that consoles were going the way of the dodo and that all digital platforms like smartphones or even PCs would be the future of industry. We’re now two console generations beyond those proclamations and are happy to report that Nintendo Switch has just managed to outdo the sales of Wii here in the US.
There are no exact numbers to point to, but Circana (formally known as the NPD) has stated that the milestone was achieved this past July (as noted by IGN). It is an impressive feat, to be sure, and one that has been no doubt aided by Nintendo Switch’s exceptional lineup of software. Nintendo’s first-party offerings over the past six years have been especially strong, with games like Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Tears of the Kingdom (to name a very few) pushing massive numbers of units apiece.
This achievement is also impressive given the meteoric rise of Wii. Wii was a true juggernaut and a genuine watershed moment in the history of the industry. Fans old, but especially new, flocked to the console thanks to its unique motion controls. Switch has been similarly popular thanks to its own motion controls as well as its hybrid nature as both a home and portable console. The concept has truly hooked gamers of all types and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Are you surprised to hear Switch has toppled the sales success of Wii? Let us know in the comments and on social media!
Source: IGN